From Santa rowing a dinghy in front of a half-built Sydney Harbour Bridge to a sleigh drawn by an Ostrich - vintage archive images give a glimpse back in time to reveal Australia's unique approach to celebrating the festive season.

Black-and-white footage dug up from the past uncovers iconic Christmas moments from the early 1900s onwards, including a crowd of 20,000-strong gathering at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion to welcome Santa in a horse-drawn carriage.

And while some traditions - like spending December 25th at Bondi Beach or Boxing Day cricket - have stood the test of time, others appear to have fallen by the wayside.